Kingsnorth Majestic In Valley End CC Conference Cup Win

Valley End CC added another notch to their cricketing bedpost with a resounding win over Brentwood CC in the final of the Conference Cup played at Amersham CC last Monday. Every player in this Valley End team started playing at the club as a junior and has been a big part of the incredible success of the club over recent years – Valley End CC won the Village Cup at Lord's in 2008.

The rain forecast to arrive on bank holiday Monday was expected to be a significant factor in the match but it was Valley End captain, Andrew Newbery, after loosing the toss and being put in, who made the best of the weather conditions. Defending an above par total posted by Valley End of 236 in their 45 overs, Newbery knew that heavy rain was due later in the afternoon and put immediate pressure on the Brentwood batsmen by opening the bowling with Valley End’s two top spinners – Alex MacQueen and Rob Carrick – with intent to rattle through the first twenty overs as quickly as possible so as to ensure the match would be completed before the expected rain blew in.

Newbery’s plan worked to perfection as the skill of MacQueen and Carrick, and the speed in which the overs were bowled, seemed to overwhelm the Brentwood batsmen as they quickly lost two wickets. The Brentwood innings never really recovered from this early setback and they soon slumped to 56 for 4 after 15 overs. The rain did arrive as predicted but only for long enough to dampen Brentwood’s hopes as they desperately needed a match saving batting performance from their middle order – but as the rain stopped wickets started falling regularly and at 112 for 9 after 35 overs the match was effectively won by Valley End. Newbery rounded off a great captain’s performance by taking four wickets and bludgeoning 20 quick runs.

The foundation for this win was set earlier in the day by a solid all round batting performance by Valley End in which the openers, Darren Redwood (50) and Paul Williams (34,) blunted the much vaunted Brentwood bowling attack with a defiant stand of 86. The runs kept flowing from Karan Singh (25) and man of the match, Ben Kingsnorth, who excelled with 64 runs in an outstanding display of clean hitting and quick running between the wickets. Wicket-keeper Kingsnorth completed a day to remember with four fine catches and a sharp stumping.